BREAKING: President Trump Has Announced His Replacement For Nikki Haley

President Trump has selected State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to replace outgoing U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, according to multiple sources.

Nauert has been President Donald Trump’s top pick for the spot since mid-October, shortly after Nikki Haley surprised the White House by announcing her departure by the end of the year. Trump was reportedly looking for a loyal candidate who had a willingness to defend him, according to CNN.

Nauertis currently serves as spokesperson for the Department of State and was appointed by President Trump. She is a former ABC News correspondent and news presenter on the Fox News program Fox & Friends.

The President selected Nauert after considering other nominees including former White House aide Dina Powell, ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell.

According to Bloomberg, if she wins Senate confirmation, Nauert will face a broad agenda at the UN topped by the need to maintain international sanctions on North Korea. Haley rallied global support for tougher measures in 2017, when Pyongyang ramped up its ballistic missile and weapons test, but there has been increasing pressure to ease up on the restrictions following Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong Un in June.

On April 24, 2017, the United States Department of State announced that Nauert would be the new State Department spokesperson, her first role in government. She held her first press briefing in that role five weeks later, on June 6, 2017. Following the dismissal of Steve Goldstein on March 13, 2018, Nauert was named acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

In April 2018, Nauert voiced support for Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. She also condemned “Iran’s malign influence” in Yemen. In May 2018, Nauert said in response to the Gaza border protests: “We oppose actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court (…) because it does not help the cause for peace.”

In July 2018, Nauer stirred up controversy when citing the Invasion of Normandy as evidence of a strong relationship between the United States and Germany.

Nauert is married to Scott Norby, executive director of private credit and equity for Morgan Stanley who previously held positions at National Veterinary Associates, UBS, Goldman Sachs, and Cargill. The couple have two sons.